Ken Rosland, Edina City Manager for 21 Years, Dies at 79

Kenneth E. Rosland, who served Edina for more than 40 years, first as director of the parks and recreation department and later as city manager, died last week at age 79.

He played an influential role in the development of the Braemar Golf Course, the Braemar Arena, Edinborough Park and Centennial Lakes Park, according to his Star Tribune obituary. In 1967, as parks director, Rosland created the nation’s first sports club exclusively devoted to racquetball and handball.

“You were a great contributor to a great city,” current city manager Scott Neal wrote on Twitter.

Rosland came to the city of Edina directly from the University of Minnesota, where he graduated in 1957 after two years in the army. He became parks director in 1961 and city manager in 1977.

After his retirement, he worked on multiple community projects including the Edina “Fall into the Arts Festival,” a fundraiser for the city’s crime prevention fund.

Police chief Jeff Long wrote on his blog that he had long admired Rosland, who hired him as a police officer.

“Despite having hundreds of employees, Ken always greeted me by name and with a smile,” he wrote. “Until the end, out of respect, I greeted him as ‘Mr. Rosland’ as it always felt like he was the boss.”

He is survived by his sister, LaDonna Clarke; brother, Rusty; sons, Tim and Paul; and grandchildren, Kristen, Sarah and Jack.

He "was one of the most amazing people I have ever met," wrote Sonya Huber of St. Paul on the Star Tribune's website. "A heart the size of Texas: What a special person, who will be thoroughly missed."

A memorial visitation for Rosland will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, at Rosland Park, which was renamed after him in 1998 (4300 West 66th St., Edina).